Lebron Sets the Garden on Fire, and Receives a Standing “O”

The game started as usual for the Cavs, with Lebron looking to pass and get his teammates involved. On his first shot attempt of the quarter, he drained a baseline jumper off a quick dribble. Taking only 2 other shots, he would end the quarter with 2 points, shooting 1/3 from the field.

With the 1st quarter in the books, and his teammates warmed up, James would go on to score 18 points in the 2nd quarter and 17 points in the 3rd.

It was in the 4th quarter, however, that he would take over the game…Not with his spectacular dunks in the open court, not with his power-house drives pass 2 and 3 defenders, not from the free throw line. No. He would take over the game from behind the arc.

With under 4:30 left on the clock and the Knicks up 99-98, James turned to the sidelines and mouthed 50 to Spike Lee, who was sitting courtside at the game (as usual), and began his attack from long-range.

He hit 2 consecutive 3-pointers to pull the Cavs up 105-98. Then came another with a little over 2 minutes to play to put the Cavs on top 110-99. Seemingly, to make good on his promise to Spike, James shot 1 more dagger into the heart of the Knicks, wrapping up his relentless 3-point attack.

James ended the game with 50 points (including four 3-pointers in the 4th quarter), 10 assists, and 8 rebounds. He shot 16-30 from the field, in his second 50-point game of the season.

“It was a great feeling. You get a fan to come down there to express the way he feels about you … told me I was his favorite player, that never happens,” James said. “I respect him, I respect his pride and for him to come out there and tell me something like that face to face, it’s like the (most) unbelievable thing that ever happened to me.”

When asked whether or not he was afraid when he saw the fan coming towards him, James said,

“I’m 6-9 and 260…I’m all right.”

Damon Jones pulled in 15 points, and Devin Brown rounded out the Cavs leading scorers with 14 points.

With Big Z, Sasha, and Gibson still out, the Cavs pulled out another win. But having a player like Lebron James definitely eases the shock of losing players to injuries, as he can, and will, bear the load.

The Knicks fell short in their 4th game in a row, while the Cavs increased their record to 4-2 since the trade, and get their 3rd straight win.